Improvement in combined hat measurers and stretchers



LEVERIWE.

Eambined Hat-Measurers and Sifetchers.

"Patented Dec. 15

TATE-S PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. LEVERING, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED HAT MEASURERS AND STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,845, dated Deccmber16, 1874; application filed November 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnos. J. LEVERING, of La Fayette, in the county ofTippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Hat Measurers and Stretchers; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in the combination of a hat-stretcher, constructedby uniting two blocks or segments by a coupler, with a measure, arrangedby attaching to each side of the stretcher a metallic strip marked witha graduated scale, upon one of which the circumference of a hat requiredis shown, and upon the other its diameter or size, so that, in case itis desired at any time to increase the size of a hat to any givencircumference, or to ascertain the size of a hat of any givencircumference, this object may be easily accomplished, and thecircumference in inches and the size shown by my apparatus without thenecessity of measuring with a separate instrument.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, 1 willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is aside elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts.

A A represent the blocks or segments. B is the coupling. 0 O are thegraduated scales; (1 d, metallic guide-rods, for keeping the blocks inplace. The segments or blocks A A and the coupler B are constructed ofwood, or any other suitable material, and the former are slightlybeveled, and so shaped that when brought together by the coupler B theinstrument assumes an oblong form, its outer circumference correspondingin shape to the inner circumference of a hat. The coupler B isconstructed with a screw at each end, one of which is right-handed, andthe other left handed. These screws fit into corresponding female screwsin the blocks or segments A A, so that by turning the coupler B thesegments A A are made to approach or recede from each other, thusdistending or contracting the stretcher. Midway between the upper andlower edges of the segments A A are the metallic guide-rods d d, whichare made fast at one end, and slide into sockets provided for theirreception in the corresponding block or segment, thereby keeping thesame in place.

The scales O O are thin strips ofmetal, provided with a graduated scaleof numbers, and are situated on each side of the upper edge of thesegments A A. They are attached and operate in the same manner as theguides d d. The one on the right shows the circumference in inches asthe machine is opened or distended, and the one on the left the diameteror size of the hat. For instance, a hat is required to fit a headmeasuring twenty-three and one-half inches in circumference. The machineis placed in the hat, and is opened or distended by turning the couplerB until the scale on the right indicates 23% inches. The scale on theleft then shows the size to be 7 The hat may then be made to retain therequired size by pressing.

I am aware that segments, or coupling the same, are not new also, thatscales have been used in various ways for measuring the size of hats,andI do not claim them independent- 1y; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the blocks A A, the coupler B, the guiderods d d, andthe scales 0 O, constructed substantially as described, and for thepurposes specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

TH OS. JEFF. LEVERING. Witnesses:

J OHN LEVERING,

CHAS. T. CLEMENT.

